Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-02-19
CITY COUNCIL.

ficiaIs by the citizens committee to particl-
pate in the procession on the 22d OF Feb
ruarv. and to determine whether or not an
appropration of one hundred dollars should
he made toward defraying the expenses
thereof.
The communication of the Mayor and &C
companying papers were read
INTHE BOARD OF ALDERMEN
and Mr.. Smith moved that the invitation be
accepted and the amount appropriated.
Mr.. Leadbeater opposed the notion say
ing he was sorry to be compelled TO differ
from his colleague from the Fourth ward.
Nearly every large taxpayer had been
sufficiently taxed already for the proposed
parade, while the merchants were the only
persons who were to be benefited by it. He
did not feel justified in voting away the peo-
pes' money even in small sums; 1T was
setting q bad example, Though probably
such precedents had been made in days
gone by. He supposed he had been placed
on the Finance Committee because he was
q man who acted on the principal of taking
care of the cents. The present Finance
Committee had worked diligently, and so
far had had no occasion to borrow money
The affairs of the corporation were working
smoothly, and the greatest desideratum OF
the people now, apart from iron shipbulld-
ing, was the lessening of taxation. one
hundred dollars was of course small sum,
but the speaker did not feel himself called
upon to vote that amount OF the peoples
money fol the purpose of helping 20 deiray
the expenses of the coming parade. He
regretted he was in the minority on the
question: but felt constrained 10 act So ne
deemed proper in the matter but the FL
| I. Tod xI,gfh q
intention of stopping all unnecessary drains
on the treasury, large or small, ana ne pur'
posed acting upon that principle.
A vote was then taken on Mr.. Smiths
motion, resulting as follows Ayes, Messra.
Moore. BRYANT, Smith and Mr.. President
A, No, Mr.. Leadbeater-1. The resolu.
ton was declared lost for want of q consti'
tutional majority.
| A bill followed while the Aldermen waited
for business from the Common Council,
when the.board found itself without quo
rum, Mr.. Moore being compelled to leave
the chamber. The Messenger was forthwith
DISPATCHED for absent members--Messrs.
Strauss. Burke and Marbury. The first.
named sent word back that he was laid up
with rheumatism, and the other two FILLING
to appear the board adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The lower board met in called session last
night but no call was read, the call sent 10
the Aldermen not having been brought III
to the Council.
The chair announced that there was no
business before the board, and requested a
member to inform the Alderman that this
board was without business and was ready
to adjourn.
The member soon returned and announc-
ed that the Board of Alderman had just re-.
ceiyed q communication from the Mayor.
Shortly afterward Alderman Bryant sp-
peared and announced that the Aldermen
had completed their business and were
ready to adjourn.
The finance committee reported an order
paving Mr.. G.. Z. Stuart II 900 for legal ser
vices in the canal case.
Mr. Snowden said that wnen the council
referred Mr.. Stuart's bill to the committee
no amount was specified but Mr.. S. asked
the committee to let other lawyers deter
mine what it was just to pay him. They
declined, and then Judge S. made his
bill 81 500, but afterwards Judge Stuart vol
UNFAIRLY released his claim Oh $500 reducing
the amount to one thousand dollars.
Mr.. Sweeney said that he did not know
what this meeting had been called for; and
: he knew so little about the matter that he
did not feel able to vote intelligently upon
the question now, and he moved to post
pone.
the CITY was endorser on note Of the Alex
andria Canal Company for $4,000, on which
interest had accrued, raising the amount to
S38 600. judge S. had settled this matter
without one cent having been paid by the
city, and as the lawyers charge was ten per
cent. he might have claimed s.. 500 aud the
city would have been obliged to pay him.
He was anxious that the bill should pass to-
night as it had already been held up for two
months.
Mr.. Goodrich did not see what harm could
be done by postponement.
MIR, Sweeney wanted time. According to
his recollection there had been compro'
mise. and the city had given up some claim.
Before the question was taken it was ask
ed whether, under the rules, nine votes or
twelve votes would be needed to make the
appropriation.
The chair held that as the question was
on a report nine votes would suffice.
Mr.. Sweeney appealed from the decision
af the chair.
Mr.. Fisher and others said they would
vote for the appropriation, but did not
think the decision of the chair was right.
On vote the decision of the chair was
not sustained.
The motion adopting the report was lost,
twelve members not voting therefor.
Some inquiry was made as to a message
of the Mayor relative to an appropriation
for the ODD of February, and it was said that
the appropriation had been defeated in the
other board.
A member introduced resolution APP
propriating 500 in aid of the celebration OF
the ODD of February.
Mr.. Sweeney supported the resolution,
urging that large number OF citizens mad
subscribed for the celebration and had
raised over $500, and should be sustained
by the city.
Mr.. Snowden said he understood the AL.
dermen would reconsider their action, and
send the matter here in short time ; then
he would vote for the appropriation. Until